Washing machine with ultraviolet protection cycle

ABSTRACT

A controller for a washing machine includes a memory storing an ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle, and a selector that selects one of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle and the another wash cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related to a washing machine. In particular, this invention is related to a washing machine with an ultraviolet protection cycle.

2. Description of Related Art

Protecting individuals from sunlight is important due to the harmful effects of sunlight on the skin and subcutaneous tissues. These effects may be experienced during, immediately after, and after prolonged and/or repeated exposure. Immediate exposure may cause reddening and a painful sunburn. Repeated exposure may cause premature aging of the skin and a loss of elastic quality.

Medically, sunlight is a contributing factor to the development of diseases such as melanoma, squamous cell, and basal cell carcinomas. A common type of long term damage is basal cell carcinoma which, although seldom fatal, can be disfiguring and requires medical attention. Another somewhat less common disease resulting from sun exposure is squamous cell carcinoma. Although also generally non-fatal, squamous cell carcinoma can spread through the body if left untreated. The most deadly and feared cancer associated with sun exposure is malignant melanoma which spreads to other parts of the body unless detected and treated at an early stage of the disease.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare pigmentary and atrophic autosomal recessive disease which causes extreme cutaneous photosensitivity to ultraviolet light and affects all races. This disease requires highly undersireable precautions to prevent exposure to light to the extent of remaining indoors in darkened rooms.

The components of sunlight that have been identified as causing deleterious medical affects are wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum which ranges from about 200 nanometers to about 400 nanometers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Fabrics have been designed which reduce ultraviolet radiation transmission. These fabrics may have a tightly woven fabric to reduce the transmission of ultraviolet radiation. In accordance with the recognition brought forth by the present invention that the process of washing these fabrics may loosen the weave of these fabrics and, as a result, reduce the effectiveness of these fabrics to block ultraviolet radiation, the present invention proposes a solution to a need to provide a washing cycle which better maintains the tightness of weave of these fabrics to reduce the gaps between the fibers and/or to actually improve the ability to block ultraviolet radiation transmission by filling the interstices between the weaves of fabrics.

Additionally, dyes and/or particles have been developed that increase the ultraviolet protection of fabrics. These materials may be applied during the manufacture of garments and/or applied by a consumer. Further, these materials may be applied during a washing cycle in a washing machine. In accordance with the recognition brought forth by the present invention that these materials may have degrading ultraviolet protection properties over time, may not be efficiently applied and/or may even have their ultraviolet protection properties degraded during a washing cycle in a washing machine, the present invention proposes a controller (such as, for example a control panel) for a washing machine with a storage that stores and ultraviolet protection cycle and another cycle and a selector which may select one of the ultraviolet protection cycle and another cycle. In this manner, a washing machine may be provided which may improve the ultraviolet protection properties of items being laundered.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizes the characteristics of a household appliance (e.g., a washing machine) to provide improved ultraviolet protection to fabrics.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a washing machine with a controller that is programmed to provide an optimum temperature, cycle time, spin speed, and spin cycle patter, to achieve an improved ultraviolet protection to the items being laundered. Additionally, this controller avoids unnecessary wear on the laundered items during the washing cycle by providing a cycle length that is sufficient to ensure proper application of ultraviolet absorbers and/or optical fabrics but does not extend the length of the cycle longer than necessary to avoid unnecessary wear.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a controller for a washing machine that includes: a memory storing an ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle, and a selector that selects one of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle and the another wash cycle.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides washing machine that includes a housing a rotatable drum within the housing, and a controller in the housing that that selects one of a ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle.

Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) is a rating that measures the ultraviolet protection that is provided by a fabric. Unlike the more commonly known sun protection factor (SPF) which only measures protection from ultraviolet B radiation (about 280-320 nm), the ultraviolet protection factor measures the ability to protect against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation (280-400 nm). A fabric with an ultraviolet protection factor of 15 only allows 1/15^(th) of the ultraviolet radiation to pass through the fabric. In other words, a fabric with an ultraviolet protection factor of 15 means that a person may be exposed to ultraviolet protection for 15 times longer than if that person would not have any protection. For example, if a person would normally become sunburned after ten (10) minutes of exposure, then that person would be able to be exposed for one hundred and fifty minutes (150) while wearing a fabric having an ultraviolet protection factor of 15 before becoming sunburned.

A conventional white cotton T-shirt may provide an ultraviolet protection factor of about 4 or 5. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may raise the ultraviolet protection factor of a white cotton T-shirt to about 15.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a washing machine in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a graph of an exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a graph of spin speed 22 of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20;

FIG. 4 is a graph of temperature 24 of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20;

FIG. 5 is a graph of cold water usage 26 of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20;

FIG. 6 is a graph of hot water usage 28 of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20;

FIG. 7 is a graph of another washing cycle 42;

FIG. 8 is a graph of spin speed 32 of the another washing cycle 42;

FIG. 9 is a graph of temperature 34 of the another washing cycle 42;

FIG. 10 is a graph of cold water usage 36 of the another washing cycle 42; and

FIG. 11 is a graph of hot water usage 28 of the another washing cycle 42.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a washing machine in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The outer tub 1 in FIG. 1 contains a washing drum 2 supported about a horizontal axis 3 and having agitators 4 for the laundry 7. The agitators 4 have scoops that scoop washing liquid 6 from the bottom of the outer tub 1 during rotation of the washing drum 2 in the direction or arrow 16 from a level N_(V), which is above the lowest point of the washing drum 2, raise it to a level above the laundry 7 and spray it down onto the laundry 7. This accelerates the wetting and flow through the laundry 7. An electric motor 14 rotates the washing drum 2using a belt drive.

A heater 13 at the base of the outer tub 1 heats the washing liquid 6. This washing liquid 6 is introduced into the outer tub 1 through valves 8 or 9. Two chambers 111 and 112 are shown in the detergent dispenser 11, through which fresh water flows respectively when the assigned valve 8 or 9 is opened. Detergent in the chambers is then transferred by the water through the pipe 10 out of the detergent dispenser 11 and into the outer tub 1. Washing liquid 6, which is at the bottom of the outer tub 1, may be conveyed out the discharge pipe 17 and by a pump 19.

The controllable aspects of the washing machine, such as the valves 8 and 9, the heater 13, the drum drive motor 14, and the drain pump 18, are controlled by a controller 12. A temperature sensor 15 measures the temperature of the washing liquid 6, and transmits temperature measurement signals to an evaluator 121 in the controller 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 in accordance with the present invention. The chart 20 includes plots for spin speed 22, temperature 24, cold water usage 26, and hot water usage 28 versus time 30. Each of these plots is separately illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, respectively. FIG. 2-6 may be compared with FIGS. 7-11 which provide comparable plots of spin speed 32, temperature 34, cold water usage 36, and hot water usage 38 versus time 40, respectively, for another washing cycle 42.

Another washing cycle 42 in this example is a regular cotton warm program washing cycle. The exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 is similar to the another washing cycle 42, however, the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 has been modified to incorporate aspects of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art understand that other cycles may also be modified to incorporate aspects of the present invention.

The exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 incorporates seven phases. The first phase (Ph1) is a wetting phase, the second phase (Ph2) is a washing phase, the third phase (Ph3) is a first intermediate spin, the fourth phase (Ph4) is a first rinsing, the fifth phase (Ph5) is a second intermediate spin, the sixth phase (Ph6) is a second rinsing, and the seventh phase (Ph7) is a final spin.

As is clearly illustrated by FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 8, washing phase (Ph2) in the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 is longer than that of the another washing cycle 42. The washing phase (Ph2) of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 is about fifty (50) minutes long while the washing phase (Ph2) of the another washing cycle 42 is about 22 minutes. The additional time allotted to the washing phase (Ph2) of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 provides more time to heat the washing liquid to a higher temperature and also provides additional mechanical working time.

The higher temperature is helpful because some ultraviolet protection materials, such as, for example, additives and/or fabric coatings, and the like, are more effective at such higher temperatures. For example, an ultraviolet protection material that is added to the washing machine in order to treat the laundry to provide improved ultraviolet protection may be more effectively bonded to and/or react with the fabric at such higher temperatures. In other words, the present invention may adapt a wash cycle by increasing the temperature of the laundry to increase the effectiveness of such additives.

FIGS. 4-6 and 9-11 further illustrate the differences between the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 and the another cycle 42 which results in the higher temperatures of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20. For example, FIG. 4 clearly illustrates that the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 starts with a higher temperature of about 120 degrees Fahrenheit in comparison to the another cycle 42 which starts with a temperature of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Each of the plots 24 and 34 illustrate a lag and overshoot of the temperatures as a result of the drum 2 and the laundry 7 being relatively colder and absorbing the heat of the incoming washing liquid 6.

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate that the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 only provides hot water to the washing liquid 6 comparison to the another cycle 42 which provides both hot and cold water during the first two phases (Ph1 and Ph2). In this manner, the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 is capable of more quickly raising the temperature of the washing liquid 6 to a higher temperature.

As is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, since the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 may provide only hot water during the early phases of the washing cycle, the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 may provide more overall volume of hot water and less overall volume of cold water to the cycle in comparison to the another washing cycle 42.

This increased temperature provided by the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 is approximately an optimum temperature for ultraviolet absorbers or optical brighteners to act on the laundry 7. Additionally, the extended length of the washing phase (Ph2) of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 in comparison to the another cycle 42 provides additional time for ultraviolet absorbers or optical brighteners to more fully react.

Further, the increased time provided to the washing phase (Ph2) provides additional time to mechanically work the fibers in the laundry such that the mechanical structure of the laundry may provide improved ultraviolet protection. For example, the additional mechanical working of the laundry may result in fiber lint filling being worked away from the fibers and into the interstices between the fibers. The filling of the interstices closes the gaps between the fibers through which ultraviolet radiation would otherwise pass. In this manner, the additional mechanical working provided by the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 improves the ultraviolet protection of the laundry.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-3 and 7-8, the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 has modified spin speed cycles in comparison to the another cycle 42. During the final spin in the seventh phase (Ph7), the another cycle 42 spins at about 1000 revolutions per minute (RPM) for about five minutes. The spin phase (Ph7) relies upon centrifugal force to pull rinsing liquid out of the laundry 7. However, this lengthy and relatively high spin speed tends to remove the ultraviolet absorbers and/or optical brighteners from the laundry 7.

In contrast, the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 modifies the spin phase (Ph7) to reduce the spin speed and to reduce the duration of the spin so as to better enable ultraviolet absorbers and/or optical brighteners to stay on the laundry 7. For example, the spin speed 22 of the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 incorporates several spin spikes 44, 46, and 48. The spin spikes 44, 46, and 48 progressively increase in spin speed. For example, the first spin spike 44 has a spin speed of about 400 RPM, the second spin spike 46 has a spin speed of about 500 RPM, and the third spin spike 48 has a spin speed of about 600. For each spin spike, once the RPM reaches the designated speed, the spin continues at that speed for about thirty (30) seconds and then returns to about a zero (0) spin speed.

An additional benefit provided by the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 during the final spin phase (Ph7) is that the reduction of the spin speed to about zero (0) RPM between the spin spikes 44, 46, and 48, permit the laundry to reposition within the drum 2. During the spinning, the laundry 7 tends to stay against the surface of the drum 2, by permitting repositioning, pockets and/or tangles within the laundry 7 which might otherwise trap washing liquid 6 in the laundry 7 would be repositioned such that they might not trap the washing liquid 6 in the laundry 7 during a subsequent spin spike.

The exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 of the present invention may work in conjunction with ultraviolet absorbers, optical brighteners, and the like. For example, a user of a washing machine may instruct the controller to select a washing cycle that incorporates aspects of the present invention. A user may select a detergent that incorporates optical brighteners, place the detergent into the detergent chamber 111 of the detergent dispenser 11 and select the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 using a user interface (not shown) that instructs the controller to operate the washing machine with a washing cycle that incorporates aspects of the present invention.

Similarly, a user of a washing machine incorporating exemplary aspects of the present invention may provide an ultraviolet absorber to a fabric softener chamber 112 of the detergent dispenser, add a detergent into the detergent chamber 111 of the detergent dispenser 11 and select the exemplary ultraviolet protection washing cycle 20 using a user interface (not shown) that instructs the controller to operate the washing machine with a washing cycle that incorporates aspects of the present invention.

Those of ordinary skill in the art understand that various aspects of a washing cycle may be modified to incorporate aspects of the present invention. Any washing machine controller that provides a washing cycle that incorporates any aspect of the present invention such that the washing cycle improves the ultraviolet protective characteristics of the laundry in comparison to another washing cycle practices the present invention.

While the above describes an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for use with ultraviolet absorbers and/or optical brighteners, those of ordinary skill in the art understand that the present invention may also be useful with other optical brightening agents, fluorescent brightening agents, fluorescent whitening agents, dyes that absorb ultraviolet wavelengths, dyes that absorb violet wavelengths, dyes that re-emit blue wavelengths, and the like. Such additives may be used to also enhance the color of fabric and paper, causing a whitening effect, making materials look less yellow, and increasing the amount of light received by the eye from the fabric.

Optical brighteners are commonly added to laundry detergents to replace whitening agents that may be removed during washing to make clothes appear cleaner. Optical brighteners had generally replace bluing which has been used to produce similar effects. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a housing; a rotatable drum within the housing; and a controller in the housing that that selects one of a ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle.
 2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a memory that stores the ultraviolet protection wash cycle and the another wash cycle.
 3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein, one of a wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is higher than the another wash cycle, a cycle time of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is longer than the another wash cycle, a spin speed of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is lower than the another wash cycle, a spin pattern of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is graduated, the ultraviolet protection wash cycle prevents cold water from entering the washing chamber until after the main wash cycle, and a main wash cycle of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is longer than a main wash cycle of the another wash cycle.
 4. A controller for a washing machine comprising: a memory storing an ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle; and a selector that selects one of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle and the another wash cycle.
 5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the ultraviolet protection wash cycle improves the ultraviolet protection of items over the another wash cycle.
 6. The controller of claim 4, wherein a wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is higher than the another wash cycle.
 7. The controller of claim 4, wherein a starting wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is about 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
 8. The controller of claim 4, wherein a wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
 9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is maintained at about 140 degrees Fahrenheit for about five minutes.
 10. The controller of claim 4, wherein the cycle time of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is longer than the another wash cycle.
 11. The controller of claim 4, wherein the spin speed of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is lower than the another wash cycle.
 12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the final spin speed of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is lower than the another wash cycle.
 13. The controller of claim 4, wherein the spin pattern of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle comprises a series of spin intervals of about thirty seconds each.
 14. The controller of claim 4, wherein the spin pattern of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is graduated.
 15. The controller of claim 14, wherein the spin pattern of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle comprises a plurality of spin speed spikes.
 16. The controller of claim 15, wherein the spin speed of each of the plurality of spin speed spikes is different.
 17. The controller of claim 16, wherein the spin speed of each of the plurality of spin speed spikes gradually increase.
 18. The controller of claim 15, wherein the spin speed of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is about zero between the plurality of spin speed spikes.
 19. The controller of claim 4, wherein ultraviolet protection wash cycle prevents cold water from entering the washing chamber until after the main wash cycle.
 20. The controller of claim 4, wherein the main wash cycle of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is longer than the main wash cycle of the another wash cycle. 